Empar Ferrer, in the poetry category, and Cèsar Palazuelos, in the story category, are the winners of the third edition of the Cavall de Laguar Literary Awards, convened by the Vall de Laguar City Council. The two authors collected the awards this weekend at an event that took place at the Benimaurell Center Polivalent and was presented by the satirical poet and troubadour Salvador Bolufer.
The mayor, Juan Carlos Mengual, presented the prizes. Meanwhile, the Councilor for Culture, Òscar Soria, highlighted the firm commitment of the council to promote literary creation in the Valencian language. The jury, made up of Carles Mulet, Jovi Lozano Seser and Joan Mascarell, unanimously decided to award the collection of poems 'The red humit of the cireres', by the writer from Poble Nou de Benitatxell, Empar Ferrer, and the story 'The last ban',
from the author of Xàbia, Cesar Palazuelos.
Award to Empar Ferrer
Of Empar Ferrer's poems, the jury highlighted their originality, freshness and sensuality, the use of dialectalisms from the Marina Alta and their ability to move. Meanwhile, the story by Cèsar Palazuelos won the award for narrative rhythm and fluidity to, based on a tradition of many Valencian towns, recreate an atmosphere of crime fiction and social denunciation.
Empar Ferrer, known until now for her work in prose (the novel 'Lo que perdí entre las Nubes' and the stories 'El gegant mitjafava', 'El secret de la pansa' and 'Bragat, el gat influencer del Puig Llorença') , revealed that 'El roig
húmit de les cireres' is his first collection of poems and that his verses are simple and flee from artifice. He pointed out that the poets who inspire him the most are Vicent Andrés Estellés, Carmelina Sánchez Cutillas and Joan Vinyoli. He also underlined "the courage" of the Vall de Laguar for betting on literature and new creators in the Valencian language. He encouraged the city council to continue promoting an award that, due to the prestige of the jury and the economic endowment (the winners receive 800 euros), is already a benchmark in the Marina Alta and sounds strong in the panorama of Valencian letters.
Ferrer could not forget a person who has been fundamental in his life and to whom this award is dedicated, “Amparo Cortell, poet and friend who discovered poetry for me and has helped me from the beginning. Without her it would have been impossible. Together we are preparing with great enthusiasm a joint poetry project that will see the light very soon and that we hope to present shortly”.
Cesar Palazuelos Award
For his part, Cèsar Palazuelos explained that it is his children, Vicent and Joan, who have encouraged him to shape a universe that links tradition and mystery. He began to tell them the stories he made up and they have asked him for more and more stories. He said that this is the first contest that he has entered and that the award means an accolade to continue exploring a very personal and, at the same time, recognizable creative universe that portrays the rich daily life of the Valencian people.
The mayor also presented the winners with a canvas by the artist Rubén M. Riera, one of the Valencian creators with the most projection and whose works dazzle for their purity, experimentation and conceptual strength.
After the Cavall de Laguar awards ceremony, the winners, the jury and the municipal representatives went to the Nou Cavall Verd restaurant, run by the excellent chef from Pegol, Evarist Miralles. There they continued talking about the magical geography of the Vall de Laguar, the mysteries of literary creation and the importance of small towns promoting culture and achieving visibility through ambitious and courageous initiatives.
These literary awards have a subsidy from the Diputación de Alicante.
